face to face. president obama and mitt romney are set to square off tonight in the first of three debates before the presidential election. attack investigation. lawmakers are raising questions about security at the u.s. consulate in benghazi and whether the death of ambassador chris stevens and three others could have been prevented. bullying backlash. a television anchor responds to a viewer who criticizes her for being overweight. >> attacks like this are not okay. >> this is the "cbs morning news" for wednesday, october 3, 2012. good morning. good to be with you. i'm terrell brown. round one tonight. this evening president obama and mitt romney face off in the first of three scheduled debates. the topic tonight in denver domestic affairs including the economy, health care reform and

immigration and the clock is ticking. the election is less than five weeks away and the stakes are high. susan mcginnis is in washington. good morning to you? >> reporter: first debates get the most attention of all of them and the first 30 minutes are said to be the most important. president obama needs to hold on to the momentum he's built. mitt romney needs to turn the entire race around with tens of millions of people watching tonight. the stage is built. the cameras are in place. and the candidates are in their final hours of preparation. mitt romney took a break from his rehearsal to grab a burrito bowl at chipotle. president obama visited hoover dam. when they arrive at the university of denver tonight they will face a lot of questions about the economy. there will be six segments 15 minutes each and the first three

are devoted entirely to the economy. >> i want to repeal obama care and replace it with something that will get the costs under control. >> reporter: how romney will replace the president's health care plan could be part of the fourth segment which is devoted to health care. the final two segments will cover the role of government and governing. with mitt romney and president obama in the final hours of preparing and holding mock debates it's up to the running mates to connect with the voters on the campaign trail. >> together we'll win north carolina. >> reporter: vice president biden said something on tuesday the romney campaign agreed with. >> how they can justify raising taxes on the middle class that's been buried the last four years. >> reporter: paul ryan said the middle class has been buried. >> they are being buried by the obama administration's economic failures. >> reporter: the obama campaign said ryan took mr. biden's words out of context. the president will have the

first word tonight, mitt romney will have the last. >> susan, thank you. this is where you can watch tonight's debate. our coverage begins at 9:00 p.m. eastern right here on cbs. meanwhile off the campaign trail conservative blogs were buzzing about fox news recent airing about a 2007 speech by a then senator obama before a black audience. he expressed suspicion the federal government was withholding recovery money to new orleans after hurricane katrina. >> when hurricane andrew struck in florida people said look at this devastation. we don't expect to you come up with the almighty money. here's the money. we won't wait for you to scratch it together because you're part of the american family. what's happening down in new orleans? where is your dollar? where is your money? makes no sense.

tells me the bullet hasn't been taken out. >> the obama campaign issued a response reading in part mitt romney's allies recirculated video of a 2007 event that was open to and extensively covered by the press at the time. if the romney campaign believes americans will accept these desperate attacks it's they who are in for a surprise. mitt romney's campaign denies any involvement with that video. a republican judge in pennsylvania has truck down the state's tough new voter i.d. law a move that can help democrats. it means votes will not have to show a photo i.d. to cast ballots on november 6th. opponents said it would disenfranchise voters. particularly young adults, minorities and the poor. governor corbett supported that law. >> this is what the court has ruled. i'm sure that the supreme court will get an opportunity to review it. >> the court has finally ruled

in favor of the voters to allow people to vote the way they've always voted without these totally cumbersome rules. >> there's 20 electoral votes at stake in pennsylvania. one of the largest states in the electoral college. the house of representatives has scheduled an october 10th hearing on the security situation leading up to the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi libya. they say they have information that u.s. officials turned down requests for increased security for u.s. diplomats in libya. chris stevens and three other americans were killed in the attack. before last month's attack in benghazi special teams arrived throughout north africa. they were positioned to quickly strike a terrorist target or rescue a hostage. anonymous counter terrorism official said they were not ready to respond. u.s. and mexican authorities are searching for suspects in the

murder of a u.s. border patrol agent. nicholas ivie was responding to an alarm in a heavily trafficked drug corridor. he was shot to death and another agent was wounded. it's the first fatal shooting of a border agent since 2010. authorities believe more than one person fired on the agents. american airlines says improperly installed seat clamps is the reason why seats came loose. american is inspecting their seats. the clamps that have been incorrectly installed. four other planes have had the same problem. in past week rows of seats have come loose during three american flights. federal aviation officials are investigating. cbs money watch time on a wednesday. car sales shift into high gear and an iphone case that can take a licking. ashley morrison has more. good morning. >> good morning. investors overseas were cautious ahead of key meetings by the central bank and bank of japan.

tokyo anybody okay fell half a percent while the hang seng gained a quarter percent. the u.s. economy got a boost from car sales. they keep just rolling along, automakers sold 1.2 million vehicles in september a 13% gain from the same month a year ago. general motors said its sales rose 1.5% its highest for september sales in four years. the dow fell 32 points to close at 13,400. the nasdaq rose 6.5 points. another boost to the u.s. economy from home sales. market researcher says prices were up 4.6% in august from a year ago. that is the largest year-over-year gain in six years. august was also the sixth month in a row that home prices were up on a month over month basis. and there might be an app for just about anything but there's not one that can make your iphone bullet proof. you'll need a case for that. a japanese company claims it's 4.5 pound case can stand up to a

gunshot. it was put to the test. the man fired a bullet at the case and it held up. the problem is the phone cracked after the gunshot sent it tumbling into some rocks. it sells for $665. now i know what to get you for christmas. >> i want that. you know what broke the phone it fell on the ground. that's what breaks our phones any way. right. >> forget the case. >> don't know if it will be a hot seller. >> coming up on the morning news, woman versus bear. a black bear meets his match when he tries to climb up a woman's porch. you have got to see this. this is the morning news.

so this black bear has no idea what he's in for. he's just hanging out on the lawn and decided to go up the steps to the porch. not a smart move. >> no!

go! no! no! >> lady comes out screaming and the bear got out of there fast. even bears know not to mess with crazy. crazy! apparently her husband shot this video which has gotten over a million hits on youtube. tanning beds may be more dangerous than previously thought. they've been linked to melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. but a new study says it can cause more common types of skin cancer especially in people younger than 25. indoor tanning is responsible for more than 175,000 new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the u.s. a new study on beta blockers say they may not always be a life saver. beta blockers are used to treat high blood pressure and help manage chronic heart failure. for some patients the medication may not be offering the protection they need. >> reporter: 68-year-old cheryl has struggled with heart problems for most of her life. five years ago her health was deteriorating fast.

my heart wasn't functioning at full capacity. >> reporter: she was in heart failure and suffering from an irregular heart beat. the doctor treated her with a beta blocker to improve her heart function and protect her from future heart attacks. a new study is raising questions about beta blockers and whether they protect the heart. >> a new trial is questioning the use of beta blockers and being protective for the heart for people who have had heart attacks and has heart disease or multiple risk factors. >> reporter: it reduces blood pressure and improves blood flow for heart patients. the new study found beta blockers did not lower the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke. millions of patients use beta blockers after a heart attack, and to treat symptoms including high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. doctors say they need to see more research before changing the practice. >> personally i will not change

my practice. we know beta blockers are extremely useful in patients with heart failures, chest pains. >> cheryl says for her the medication has made a world of difference. >> it's hard to remember back to when i felt that bad. >> her heart function improved, she's stronger and worries less about her health. up next on a wednesday morning your weather forecast and in sports living the dream. seven years after a pitch almost ruined his career, adam greenberg finally gets a second chance.

>> here's a look at the weather in some cities around the country. thunderstorms in new york, 77 degrees. thunderstorms in miami 91. showers in chicago 66. sunny in dallas 87. mostly sunny in los angeles, 84. let's check your national forecast. a stormfront rumbles through the south and northeast. temperatures expected to be up 10 degrees above-normal. a strong cold front bringing chilly showers will hit parts of the midwest and the mercury could top out 15 degrees above average in the central plains to the upper mississippi valley. in sports this morning it is over for the l.a. dodgers their hopes of a national league wild card spot stomped on by the giants. in the seventh, ellis goes deep to center to get l.a. within one but it wasn't enough. san fan end it 4-3.

for the third year in a row, l.a. will miss the post-season. cliffhanger in the american league east, orioles chris davis golfs one to center. baltimore edges the rays 1-0. and a walk off rbi single in the 14th inning helps the yankees beat the red sox. new york and orioles end up tied tomorrow night they play a one game tiebreaker on thursday. miguel cabrera is this close to winning baseball's triple crown. another great game at the plate. got two hits and two rbis against the royals. currently he has a seven-point lead for the batting title. he also has a comfortable lead in the rbi category. he's just one homer up on josh hamilton. if his numbers hold up after tomorrow's last game of the season, he could be the first player since 1967 to win the triple crown. adam greenberg's dream came true. he got a second chance at his first at-bat. seven years ago he made a debut

and got nailed in the back of the head with a fast ball. he suffered with intense headaches but fought his way back. after a big internet push the miami marlins signed him to a one day contract. he got to the plate facing one of the best pitchers in the league. three pitches, ended with a strikeout. he's not giving up because he still hopes to make it back to the majors. finally a hockey player celebration that got just a little bit carried away. second period of a junior hockey game in new jersey, taking a page from the big leagues, he goes to the glass and it gives way. he doesn't care. jumps right back up and keeps on partying. probably feeling it this morning. when we come back, weighing in on bullying. a wisconsin news anchor takes her personal fight against a bully on air after being accused by a viewer of being obese. obese.

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um, hello. these ugly stains are ruining my good looks and style. and good luck using that cleaner. excuse me, miss ? he's right. those are tough hard water stains,

here's a look at the weather in some cities around the country. in washington humid 86. partly sunny in atlanta 78. showers in st. louis 74 degrees. sun in denver 76 and mostly sunny in seattle, 65. so a little insight here in the tv business we receive a lot of feedback from viewers and it is not always good. let me tell you. after getting some very personal criticism a wisconsin anchor woman responded to one viewer on the air. >> i want to take a moment to address a situation that has become a talking point in this community. >> jennifer livingston has been delivering the news in wisconsin for 15 years. on tuesday she became the story. during wkbt's morning broadcast she responded to a viewer's e-mail criticizing her weight and calling her a bad role model for young girls. it reads in part i was surprised indeed to witness that your physical condition hasn't

improved for many years. i leave you this note hoping you'll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle. livingston received the e-mail on friday. it went viral when her husband also an anchor at the station posted it to his facebook page. on tuesday's broadcast she thanked her supporters and then took on her detractors. >> attacks like this are not okay. the truth is, i am overweight. you can call me fat. and, yes, even obese on a doctor's chart. but to the person who wrote me that letter do you think i don't know that? >> livingston then used the situation to draw attention to bullying. >> if you are at home and you were talking about the fat news lady, guess what? your children are probably going to go to school and call someone fat. do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies. learn from my experience the

cruel words of one does not compare to the shouts of many. we'll be right back. >> that viewer is not backing down. he responded to her after at the die tore trial in another e-mail. he called on her to fight the obesity crisis by transforming herself over the next wear. he said she has an opportunity to set an example for local children. coming up on "this morning" a live chat with jennifer livingston. looking forward to hearing from her. >> suzy the poodle mix had to be rescued from the grill of a car. she got stuck there after being hit by a car that was going 50 miles per hour. the vehicle drove on for another 11 miles before anyone noticed. amazingly suzy only suffered a minor concussion. not bad after just being hit by a car. she was reunited with her owners on tuesday. coming up, an update on a historic shark tagging project in cape cod. i'm terrell brown. this is the "cbs morning news".

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both president obama and mitt romney want to avoid any embarrassing moments during tonight's presidential debate. since the debates began regularly back in 1976 there have been many memorable moments both good and bad. bill plante reports few have changed the outcome of the election. >> reporter: in 1980 president jimmy carter led governor ronald reagan in the polls but one line from reagan in their only debate put carter on the defensive and make a mantra for future challengers to an incumbent. >> are you better off than you were four years ago? >> reporter: in 1984 reagan now the incumbent did it again. after seeming to lose his way in the first debate with walter mondale, the 73-year-old reagan diffused the issue with one well timed quip. >> i will not make age an issue of this campaign.

i will not exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience. [ laughter ] >> one liners like those are far and few in between. historians says it's not what the candidates say that usually matters the most. >> less important than what they say is how they appear. do they treat their rival with respect. do they connect with the audience? do they respond at the moment when they have to react? how do they look? how do they seem? >> reporter: during the first-ever televised debate richard nixon chose to wear no makeup. with a 5:00 shadow he looked sweaty and uncomfortable compared to the tanned, relaxed john f. kennedy. then voters heard the impatient sighs of al gore. it was clear by the microphones while george w. bush was talking. it played into a larger narrative into the campaigns.

it re-inforced what the audience thought about the candidates. >> when gore sighed endlessly and moaned during the debate and we saw that on television, it just emphasized the idea that he was arrogant and condescending, something people were already concerned about. when nixon was sweating, there was some sense that he was already shifty and there was an anxiety in his soul as well as his body. >> that's what the question in this campaign is about. >> reporter: in a later debate that year gore appeared to invade the personal space of bush. >> i believe i can. >> reporter: a move which made him look awkward compared to his relaxed opponent. in 1992 george h.w. bush was caught twice by cameras glancing at his watch during a town hall debate with voters which reinforced the suggestion he was disengaged and uninterested. >> when something is as close as it is now a small shift may create a forward movement in one direction or another. that's why these debates become great moments. >> see what happens tonight. that was bill plante reporting.

coming up on cbs "this morning" a preview of tonight's presidential debate. we'll hear from senior advisers to the president's campaign and mitt romney's campaign. plus crash test dummies are getting a make over. we'll get a special behind-the-scenes tour at gm. that's the "cbs morning news." i appreciate you watching. i'm terrell brown. take care everyone. have a great day. the "cbs morning news." i'm terrell brown. take care everyone. ,,,,

>> your realtime captioner: linda marie macdonald . good morning, everybody. it's wednesday, october 3. i'm frank mallicoat. >> i'm michelle griego. time now is 4:30. we're following developing news in the east bay. a three-alarm fire leaving a berkeley family homeless this morning